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Sen. Durbin made a terrific speech a while ago. Watch the others on CSPAN2.
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The Senate moved to confirm Michael Mukasey as the nation's newest attorney general Thursday despite differences over his position on the legality of harsh interrogation of terrorism suspects.
The torture issues have dogged Mukasey's nomination and nearly toppled it. His refusal to equate an interrogation technique known as waterboarding with torture cost him many Democratic votes, but he is expected to handily win confirmation.
After daylong negotiations, the Senate opened debate Thursday night on President Bush's nomination of Mukasey, a retired federal judge, to replace Alberto Gonzales.
To win confirmation, Mukasey has promised to enforce any anti-waterboarding law passed by Congress but his Democratic opponents say he is being disingenuous because any such law would likely be vetoed by President Bush.
Waterboarding, which simulates drowning, is banned by domestic law and international treaties. But those policies don't cover the use of the technique by CIA personnel, and the administration won't say whether it has allowed the agency's employees to use it against terror detainees.
"The United States will not be viewed kindly if we confirm as chief law enforcement officer of this country someone who is unwilling or unable to recognize torture when he sees it," said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat.
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